Rail-bending device



Patented May 1, 1923.

than? j ar ortica.

PAUL E. CHAIMBERS, OF WALSEN, COLORADO.

RAIL-BENDING- DEVICE.

Application led July 18, 1921.

.To all wiwi/e. it may concern.'

Be it known that I, PAUL E. Crnxen nuns, a citizen of the United States, residing at IValsen. in the county of Huerfano and State of Colorado.I have invented certain new and useful Improvements in 'Rail- Bending Devices; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it ap-v pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a bending device for rails by means of which the rails may be bent back into their normal straight position. The device is particularly designed for taking out surface bend so as to make the rails flat again.

Briefly the invention comprises a yoke or frame carrying at its ends rail-receiving holders and provided at its middle with a jack screw to engage the middle portion of the rail and to force the same outward until alined with the parts in the holders.

In the drawings forming` a part of this specification Figure 1 is a plan of the device with a rail in position;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; and

F 3 is a section taken on the line 5-3 of Fig. 1.

The bending or straightening device is composed of a yoke or U-shaped frame 10 having at its middle portion a hub or boss 12 to receive a jack screw 14. The end of each arm of the yoke is provided with holes for receiving a pair of high grade steel bolts 16 by means of which rail holding and positioning devices are secured to the yoke. These holders are composed of a pair of spaced jaws 18, the outer ends of each pair of jaws being held together by means of a pair of bolts 20. A shoulder 22 is provided on the outer portion of each jaw 18 for engagement by the ball of the rail R and each jaw is swelled outward as indicated at 24 to receive the base of the rail. Each holder ma)l be made adjustable for rails of dilferent sizes by the use of shims Serial No. 485,607.

25 between the outer ends of each pair of jaws and-shims 26 between the inner end of one jaw and the end of the yoke.

A nut 30 is threaded on the jackscrew 141 and engages against the boss 12, while the opposite end of screw 14 is provided with a shoe to engage the base of the rail R. l1`his shoe may have a plurality of steps 34 to accommodate the bases of rails of different sizes. The nut 30 will preferably be a hexagonal nut for engagement by a large wrench, but it may, if desired, be also provided with an aperture as indicated at 35 in Fig. 1 to receive a special tool for turning the nut.

In operation, the shims 25 and 26 are adjusted to provide an opening between the jaws 18 of each holder to accommodate the specific size of rail to be straightened. The

rail is then slid or otherwise moved into position in the holders as indicated in the drawings, so that the bulge in therail is directed toward the boss 12. Since the screw 14 slides through the hole o'f the boss readily, turning of the nut 30 which engages against the boss will bring the shoe 32 into engagement with the rail base, the proper size steps Btitting against the base. As turning of the nut 30 continues, the screw 14 and shoe 32 will be steadily forced outward so that the bulge or bend in the rail will be taken out. When the middle part of the rail has come into alinement with the parts in the holder, turning of nut is reversed to release the shoe 32 from the rail base. The rail is then adjusted to another position for straightening another bend or is removed as required.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a comparatively simple device fer straightening rails without any greater difficulty than placing a rail in the holders and turning a nut.

It will also be seen that the bulge in the jaws, 18 formsv an inclined surface on each jaw, which surfaces engage the edges of the rail base regardless of the size of the rail and the respective adjustment. In this manner the rail is held against rockingduring the straightening operation. i

I claim:

A -rail bender comprising a pair of spaced holders to prevent movement of a rail in one direction and u movable member connected with said holders and adapted to move an intermediate portion of the rail in the opposite direction, each holder comprising dv pair of spaced jaws forming a closed loop7 said jaws being secured together at their outer ends and being shouldered to rected toward said member for engagement 10 thereby.

In testimony whereof I afx my signature.

PAUL E. CHAMBERS. 

